SMI Debbie Callaghan, County PRO Greater Manchester ACF
Commandants Coin awarded to Cadet LCpl Ellis Whitehead, No 3 (Somme) Company.
The nomination for the Commandants coin came from his Detachment Commander and Company Sergeant Major, CSM Mark Woodward.
CSM Woodward said “LCpl Whitehead goes above and beyond with the time he spends in the ACF and being a young carer at home for his mum.
LCpl Whitehead has attended every parade night, prior to lockdown and during lockdown. He is well liked by cadets and staff and is always happy to help around the detachment with cleaning and running the naafi (tuckshop)”.
LCpl Whitehead’s mum, Rachel, also shared her pride for her son.
“Following Ellis’s recent promotion to Lance Corporal, I would like to say how extremely proud his dad and I are of what he has achieved so far with the Army Cadets. It was discussed in his interview about the Army Cadets Values and Standards. It was said that selfless commitment describes Ellis due to his role at home. I agree. It can be hard for people to know or understand the role and responsibilities of a carer. Ellis is not just a high school student, goalkeeper, army cadet, he is also a Young Carer of whom I am very proud of as his mum and so too is his dad, David.
Ellis has taken on many roles at home to help me, which includes housework by washing dishes and keeping his bedroom and other areas of our home clean and tidy, shopping and offering me support with my medical condition by helping with my medicines and medical machine inside and outside the home. Ellis is always there to help and most important to me is him being there to give me a hug on a difficult day”.
In addition to all of the above LCpl Whitehead has raised money for Signpost Young Carers by running in the kids Greater Manchester run and has raised money for the Royal British Legion by doing the poppy selling/collections.
PRO: What are the Army Cadets Values and Standards – CDRILS
Courage, Discipline, Respect, Integrity, Loyalty, Selfless Commitment. LCpl Whitehead has all of these. Well done for being a credit to the Army Cadets and making your family so proud of you. We too are all proud of you.
#VirtualACF #KeepTheFlameAlive #GmanACFforceforgood #LifelongLearning #Courage #Discipline #Respect #Integrity #Loyalty #SelflessCommitment
